Spike Sets Focus on Older Male Audience

NEW YORK: In an effort to expand its audience to reach older males, Spike TV has slated a crop of new original pilots, including six comedies.

"We have spent the last few years successfully bringing in men 18 to 34 with a mix of action, outrageous comedy and fun infotainment," said Kevin Kay, the president of Spike TV. "Now we’re focused on bringing 25- to 49-year-olds with scripted fare that they can relate to—especially workplace and family humor."

The roster of scripted pilots include Thunderballs, a half-hour comedy that follows three friends on a beer league bowling team; Untitled Air Traffic Controllers Comedy, from the producers of Deadliest Catch and Ice Road Truckers; Untitled Beth McCarthy Miller Project, from the director of comedy hits 30 Rock and Saturday Night Live; and Powerball, about a 30-something who still lives with his parents and wins the multi-million dollar Powerball lottery. There’s also At Ease, about two misfit U.S. Army drill sergeants; Untitled Family Barbecue Comedy, following a man who is pursuing his dreams of competing on the professional barbecue circuit; and F.T.W., a one-hour drama that is focused on an Atlanta police officer who is recruited by the Department of Homeland Security. The Spike schedule will also see the scripted comedy Blue Mountain State returning for a second season.

All pilots currently have working titles. Laurence Sullivan, the director of original programming at Spike TV, and Dustin Davis, the manager of original programming at Spike TV, are overseeing all scripted projects.